I remembered walking on the Raolin Valleys side-by-side with Richard; the both of us holding hands and smiling at each other. We reached the edge of the valley and sat down on the fine grass that grew on it. It was a great landscape, stretching for miles away from Heaven. Night was slowly descending upon us, but we weren't bothered about the darkness. Richard helped me prepare our picnic. But when I finished setting down the plates in front of us, he brought out a ring and proposed to me while on his knees.
" Sarah", he began, drawing my attention and startling me with the ring," You and I have known each other for sometime now. Even though it looks a little too early, being that we've dated only half a year, you have shown me that you are the most precious thing that I would ever regret losing. And so my love, please marry me".
I covered my mouth with both hands and cried happily." Yes!", I yelled and kissed him, making both of us to collapse on the mat. We kissed each other for a long time and he later finally put the ring on my right middle finger, bringing about a short lived kissing. After that, we had our picnic dinner and watched the beautiful sunset ahead of us. We looked at each other, smiled and kissed yet again.
" Richard", I said as I looked at the sunset," I want to promise you something".
" And what is that dear?", asked Richard as he looked at me.
" I promise you this Richard, till death do us part, I will forever love and protect you".
He smiled and replied," Thank you Sarah, although you said our vows a little too early. And how are you going to protect me, if I may ask".
" I'll protect you because I know that you will protect me".
He smiled again and kissed my hair," Then we'll protect each other then".
I loved what he had said. I looked at him and kissed him lovely. However, he suddenly stood up and began leaving, which puzzled me a lot.
" Where are you going Richard?", I asked.
" You have to wake up dear. You have to face your reality", he said without looking at me. He continued walking away nonstop.
" Richard! Wait! Don't leave me!", I exclaimed and immediately ran after him. However, the sun had set and darkness had covered the whole land. I ran aimlessly and yelled out his name continuously," Richard! Richard! Richard!".
Then slowly I woke up, feeling quite dizzy and weak. My vision was blurry, but I could see that I was trapped inside a pod, my hands hung up by chains, same with my feet to the ground. Some strange tubes ran along with the chains and fastened themselves on my skin. I recorded no pain, but felt fear running through me. Many questions swayed back and forth in my mind. What happened to Fred and Eve? What about the War between San Franciso and Heaven? Who kidnapped me during the War?
The pod had a faint blue glass of which I was able to see through. Scientists were seen doing one thing or the other, none of which noticed that I had awoken, except a red head who popped his head beside the glass, frightening me a little. Big round glasses obviously replaced his eyes, and a scar ran through his left. It was either he got an accident or had his eyes stabbed, most probably by his wife. Red head gave a smug, turned back and looked 45 degrees up, shouting," She's awake!", three times.
Movements occurred in the direction which Red head had faced. I couldn't make out who was moving as the darkness cloaked them. An elevator suddenly glowed blue and came to the same floor where I was. Out came three men, of whom I instantly remembered two of them. One was the cyborg who had stolen the Blutonium and placed San Francisco at the mercy of Heaven, while the other was responsible for the death of Kevin. The third seemed to be the leader and walked in the middle. They stood in front of my pod and saw that I was staring at the two men at his side.
" Good evening Sarah", said the man," At my right is Serpent Barnes and my left Cheetah. I am sure you recognise them".
" Why wouldn't I? The murderer of Kevin and the thief are right here. If I may ask, who are you?".
He smiled," You can call me Aldor, Sarah. I'm sure that you are confused, wondering why you were made a sniper and what had happened to your beloved Richard. Do you really want to know who you are?"
I nodded my head.
Aldor smiled," Well for starters I was a highly recognized official in Heaven until I was found guilty of an offense and exiled from my home. I however made some friends and formed an alliance with a lot of people, being the head of them all. I saved Barnes from death when he was abandoned by Kevin in a military operation. I think you now know why Kevin needed to be killed. Cheetah here is extremely fast, more than thrice that of a normal cheetah. That's our introduction, so let me supply you answers to your question.
" Your father had an issue with Phil, a close friend of your fiance. Richard rescued you from the burning house and took you to Phil, where you were treated from your wounds. Phil planned to wipe out your memory with a chip planted in your brain, but Kevin captured you and made you the sniper Navada. Heaven wanted to sell Blutonium to San Francisco, but we couldn't let that happen. So we framed the President, allowed his bodyguard to end him, watched as San Francisco fell and captured you because we needed you for something special".
" Which is?".
" To kill Richard".
My eyes widened as I heard his response," What! I would never do such a thing!".
Aldor smiled," I know. I actually need Navada instead".
" What?".
" That chip in you still functions Sarah. Its been left dormant for a long time. Richard and his family are my main targets. My assassin killed all of them except him and his mother. I have other plans in store for Heaven, but in the meantime, I need a sniper".
My eyes caught Red head as he carried the missing Blutonium and placed them in a machine connected to my pod.
" What are you doing?", I asked with fear running in my veins.
" We decided to make you stronger, faster and more enhanced than you are now. Once this Blutonium is injected into you, the pod will heat up, harden the Blutonium and improve you. While this is going on, Cheetah will reprogram you and erase all your love for Richard, replacing it with bitter hatred".
" No!", I screamed, hot tears pouring out," Please don't! Please!".
" Don't cry darling. Just close your eyes and embrace your rebirth".
He walked to a switch, ignored my pleas, and punched it. Smoke filled the pod, the Blutonium entered my veins, the pod heated up and my cries died down. While Aldor moved back and observed, Cheetah punched a button on his mechanical right arm and brought out a hologram from a small blue projector installed in his arm. He searched for all my memories, the most precious of them all, erased them completely and replaced them with fake memories of hatred.
" It's done sir", Cheetah said to Aldor after he was done.
" Good work Cheetah", congratulated Aldor. He faced the red head and asked," Is she ready Doc Martin?".
Doc Martin stared at a monitor which displayed the level of progress and saw that the female body icon gave out a green colour. He looked back at Aldor and replied with an evil smile," She's ready".
" Then fetch her out for me".
Martin obeyed and punched the switch. The glass slid sideways and the smoke poured out. Everyone stood and watched the pod, wanting to see what would happen next. I later emerged out from the pod and walked like a machine towards Aldor. I stood right in front of him and then knelt down. He smiled and said to me," Do you know what is your mission Navada?".
" Yes", I replied and looked at him," Kill Phillemon Jake, and kill Richard Stephens".